Suez (Egyptian Arabic: السويس, romanized: as-Suways, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}pronounced [esseˈweːs]) is a seaport city (population of about 700,000 as of August 2021[update]) in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea, near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, and is the capital of the Suez Governorate. It has three ports: the Suez Port (Port Tewfik), al-Adabiya,[3] and al-Zaytiya,[4] and extensive port facilities. Together they form a metropolitan area, located mostly in Africa with a small portion in Asia. 29°58′N 32°33′E / 29.967°N 32.550°E / 29.967; 32.550Railway lines and highways connect the city with Cairo, Port Said, and Ismailia. Suez has a petrochemical plant, and its oil refineries have pipelines carrying the finished product to Cairo. These are represented in the flag of the governorate: the blue background refers to the sea, the gear refers to Suez's status as an industrial governorate, and the flame refers to the petroleum firms of Suez. The modern city of Suez is a successor of the ancient city of Clysma, a major Red Sea port and a center of monasticism.[5]